1 Enoch (Ethiopic) Parallel Translations

Charles < < Chapter LXXIII / Chapter 72 > > Laurence

LXXIII. THE MOON AND ITS PHASES.

LXXIII

1And after this law I saw another law dealing with the smaller luminary, which is named the Moon. 2And her circumference is like the circumference of the heaven, and her chariot in which she rides 3is driven by the wind, and light is given to her in [definite] measure. And her rising and setting change every month: and her days are like the days of the sun, and when her light is uniform 4[i.e. full] it amounts to the seventh part of the light of the sun. And thus she rises. And her first phase in the east comes forth on the thirtieth morning: and on that day she becomes visible, and constitutes for you the first phase of the moon on the thirtieth day together with the sun in the 5portal where the sun rises. And the one half of her goes forth by a seventh part, and her whole circumference is empty, without light, with the exception of one-seventh part of it, [and] the 6fourteenth part of her light. And when she receives one-seventh part of the half of her light, her light 7amounts to one-seventh part and the half thereof. And she sets with the sun, and when the sun rises the moon rises with him and receives the half of one part of light, and in that night in the beginning of her morning {in the commencement of the lunar day} the moon sets with the sun, and 8is invisible that night with the fourteen parts and the half of one of them. And she rises on that day with exactly a seventh part, and comes forth and recedes from the rising of the sun, and in her remaining days she becomes bright in the [remaining] thirteen parts.

72

72:1
After this law I beheld another law of an inferior luminary, the name of which is the moon, and the orb of which is as the orb of heaven.

72:2
Its chariot, [which] it secretly ascends, the wind blows; and light is given to it by measure.

72:3
Every month at its exit and entrance it becomes changed; and its periods are as the periods of the sun. And when in like manner its light is to exist, (79) its light is a seventh portion from the light of the sun.

(79) And when in…is to exist. I.e., when the moon is full (Knibb, p. 171).

72:4
Thus it rises, and at its commencement towards the east goes forth for thirty days.

72:5
At that time it appears, and becomes to you the beginning of the month. Thirty days [it is] with the sun in the gate from which the sun goes forth.

72:6
Half of it is in extent seven portions, one [half]; and the whole of its orb is void of light, except a seventh portion out of the fourteen portions of its light. And in a day it receives a seventh portion, or half [that portion], of its light. Its light is by sevens, by one portion, and by the half [of a portion]. Its sets with the sun.

72:7
And when the sun rises, the moon rises with it; receiving half a portion of light.

72:8
On that night, when it commences its period, previously to the day of the month, the moon sets with the sun.

72:9
And on that night it is dark [in] its fourteen portions, that is, [in each] half; but it rises on that day with one seventh portion precisely, and in its progress declines from the rising of the sun.

72:10
During the remainder of its period its light increases to fourteen portions.